Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Big Horn Sheep
My exploring today was a visit to the Sonora Desert Museum. This morning when I arrived at 7:30, no doubt there were more docents than guests walking the trails. The animals were still active before the heat of the day.
With addition of a lamb, the animal population of the park has increased since my last visit to the bighorn sheep exhibit.
With addition of a lamb, the animal population of the park has increased since my last visit to the bighorn sheep exhibit.
It was great day for exploring to find something new at the Sonora Desert Museum
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Collared Lizard
Rather than my usual solo hike, Paul joined me for a short hike in Saguaro East.
Paul and I had met on the road when we were full time RVers. Coincidentally, when he decided to stop being a nomad in January 2014, he settled right next door in Far Horizons East. Our hike was catching up on life and living.
At one point Paul was leading the way on the trail and he spotted this collared lizard with the fresh colors of a recent molting.
As we hiked, we noted bouquets of blossoms atop many of the saguaros. However, I didn't take any more photos to add to the ever growing photo archive of saguaros.
Paul and I had met on the road when we were full time RVers. Coincidentally, when he decided to stop being a nomad in January 2014, he settled right next door in Far Horizons East. Our hike was catching up on life and living.
At one point Paul was leading the way on the trail and he spotted this collared lizard with the fresh colors of a recent molting.
As we hiked, we noted bouquets of blossoms atop many of the saguaros. However, I didn't take any more photos to add to the ever growing photo archive of saguaros.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Hiking Saguaro National Park
For exercise, some people go to the gym. Some go for a run. Some get on their bicycle. For me it is hiking in the nearby desert -- every other day.
More appropriately my hike might be called a walk. It is not a brisk pace as I walk. As I walk I stop a lot to enjoy the views and the flora and fauna. I note the nearby birds -- cardinal, cactus wren, gila woodpecker, thrasher, quail and others I can identify from the song or call.
Another bird identified by its call is the white winged dove. Migrating from Mexico, they assist in pollination of the saguaros and when the fruit ripens, they assist in the distribution of the seeds -- each the size of a poppy seed. Their song or call is not the most melodic. Actually, I find it rather annoying. This is a white winged dove perched atop a saguaro.
Birds aren't the only fauna sightings. I see jack rabbits, rabbits, and some type of desert rodent. On a recent hike, I finally saw my first rattler of the season. The rattler just crawled into the brush without scaring me. Until I spotted the movement as his tail moved into the brush.
Fauna moves too much for photos. Not so with the flora of the desert. That becomes a whole lot easier for photos. And I have a lot of them.
In mid May there are a lot of saguaros in bloom. The blooms are barely visible from a distance.
In most cases there are just a few of the flowers in bloom atop a saguaro. Then there is this saguaro with a bouquet of blooms.
Most photos of the saguaros are taken with a telephoto. However, I've found a saguaro that has one arm that hangs down so the blossoms are at head height. That makes a great opportunity to take a macro photo of the bloom.
Over these past couple of weeks, I have taken many photos of saguaros. To close this post, here is photo that I gave a water color look. At least that is what was intended.
Tucson's temperatures have been in the mid 90s recently and more is predicted. Because of that heat, I have been on the trail as early as 6:30. The good part is that I can be back home before ten as the day begins to get seriously hot.
Back to Saguaro National Park East on Saturday for more photos of saguaros.
More appropriately my hike might be called a walk. It is not a brisk pace as I walk. As I walk I stop a lot to enjoy the views and the flora and fauna. I note the nearby birds -- cardinal, cactus wren, gila woodpecker, thrasher, quail and others I can identify from the song or call.
Another bird identified by its call is the white winged dove. Migrating from Mexico, they assist in pollination of the saguaros and when the fruit ripens, they assist in the distribution of the seeds -- each the size of a poppy seed. Their song or call is not the most melodic. Actually, I find it rather annoying. This is a white winged dove perched atop a saguaro.
Birds aren't the only fauna sightings. I see jack rabbits, rabbits, and some type of desert rodent. On a recent hike, I finally saw my first rattler of the season. The rattler just crawled into the brush without scaring me. Until I spotted the movement as his tail moved into the brush.
Fauna moves too much for photos. Not so with the flora of the desert. That becomes a whole lot easier for photos. And I have a lot of them.
In mid May there are a lot of saguaros in bloom. The blooms are barely visible from a distance.
In most cases there are just a few of the flowers in bloom atop a saguaro. Then there is this saguaro with a bouquet of blooms.
Most photos of the saguaros are taken with a telephoto. However, I've found a saguaro that has one arm that hangs down so the blossoms are at head height. That makes a great opportunity to take a macro photo of the bloom.
Over these past couple of weeks, I have taken many photos of saguaros. To close this post, here is photo that I gave a water color look. At least that is what was intended.
Tucson's temperatures have been in the mid 90s recently and more is predicted. Because of that heat, I have been on the trail as early as 6:30. The good part is that I can be back home before ten as the day begins to get seriously hot.
Back to Saguaro National Park East on Saturday for more photos of saguaros.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Books And Ebooks
Without a permanent home for 13 years, my reading included print books and ebooks. Used book stores provided the print books which I could then sell back after they were read. Some of the ebooks were purchased. Over the past three years I have been a patron at the Pima County Library where I have been downloading from their catalog of ebooks.
I don't know how the library decides which books to purchase as ebooks. However, I do know that the selection is definitely smaller than print books. Since most of my reading is non-fiction, that may contribute to the limited number of titles of ebooks available to me.
There are a few writers of fiction that I read. Since those authors don't create a new book every year, there isn't a whole lot of fiction that I read.
Searching the library catalog for another ebook to read had become a habit. It was only in the past two weeks, that it dawned on me (first sign of senility?) that the library also lends real books.
With a settled existence in Tucson and a nearby branch of the Pima County Library, a whole new world has opened up. I have a rather lengthy list of "books to be read". They were placed on the list awaiting an ebook that I could download. When I went to the library's catalog and searched for the first book on that list, it was there awaiting for a reserve. About a week later I received an email that the book was at the local branch.
Wow. This is a wonderful world. A nearby library is a definite advantage to this settled existence.
Photo is of the Carnegie Library building in San Luis Obispo. Built in 1905, today the building is the San Luis Obispo Historical Museum.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Camping Memories
Yesterday Tohono Chul Gardens had a car show celebrating Route 66 and the cars that traversed the road.
That is where I found this well restored combo -- a 1956 Airstream and a 1959 Cadillac four door hardtop.
That combo would certainly be camping in style.
That wasn't my style. When that car and trailer were new, my bank account allowed for borrowed tents -- and eventually I owned one. The tent was heavy canvas. Usually, there was a hint of mildew and after a rain there was a definite mildew odor.
That was the downside of tent camping. The upside was being outside exploring -- or fishing. The end of the day was sitting around a smoky fire making hot dogs, That was followed by brown/burnt marshmallows before retiring for the night under a starlit sky.
Those are good memories!
That is where I found this well restored combo -- a 1956 Airstream and a 1959 Cadillac four door hardtop.
That combo would certainly be camping in style.
That wasn't my style. When that car and trailer were new, my bank account allowed for borrowed tents -- and eventually I owned one. The tent was heavy canvas. Usually, there was a hint of mildew and after a rain there was a definite mildew odor.
That was the downside of tent camping. The upside was being outside exploring -- or fishing. The end of the day was sitting around a smoky fire making hot dogs, That was followed by brown/burnt marshmallows before retiring for the night under a starlit sky.
Those are good memories!
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Anagrams
One of my pass times is solving crossword puzzles. Some days no puzzles are done. Other days I may do more than one. I am no whiz. And I do them in pencil. I'm good for Thursday (New York Times ranking) puzzles. Some times I can get through most of the Friday puzzle. I'm pleased when I can solve -- without looking at answers -- over 50% of a Saturday version.
Although crosswords are my favorite, occasionally I will do other word games such as Jumble or Scrabble.
Then there is Anagrams. About 20 years ago, I wrote several word programs in Visual Basic. One of those was an anagram program that found the words contained in a string of characters. Since I have no desire to create that code on the Mac, I searched the internet for the solution. The Wordsmith website did the job for me.
To test the program, I used my first and last name "lloydtreichel". The list of phrases was extensive and most of the combination of words were nonsensical.
Three phrases survived the cut. If I was a one time monk, "tried holy cell" would have been an apt anagram. With talent for singing standards from the 40s and 50s, the songs could be described as "cheery old lilt". If my profession was a florist, "hold lily erect" would be an apt anagram. Yes. I am aware that it could be a double entendre.
The Anagram Hall of Fame on the same site provides interesting reading. One near the top of the list is dormitory which contains the anagram "dirty room".
Wishing you fun finding a descriptive phrase from your name at Wordsmith.
Although crosswords are my favorite, occasionally I will do other word games such as Jumble or Scrabble.
Then there is Anagrams. About 20 years ago, I wrote several word programs in Visual Basic. One of those was an anagram program that found the words contained in a string of characters. Since I have no desire to create that code on the Mac, I searched the internet for the solution. The Wordsmith website did the job for me.
To test the program, I used my first and last name "lloydtreichel". The list of phrases was extensive and most of the combination of words were nonsensical.
Three phrases survived the cut. If I was a one time monk, "tried holy cell" would have been an apt anagram. With talent for singing standards from the 40s and 50s, the songs could be described as "cheery old lilt". If my profession was a florist, "hold lily erect" would be an apt anagram. Yes. I am aware that it could be a double entendre.
The Anagram Hall of Fame on the same site provides interesting reading. One near the top of the list is dormitory which contains the anagram "dirty room".
Wishing you fun finding a descriptive phrase from your name at Wordsmith.
Friday, May 9, 2014
Christmas Cholla Added To Landscape
A few days ago I wrote about the Wascaly Wabbit mutilating the Christmas Cholla that I had planted.
Shortly after that post, I had gone to explore Tohono Chul Gardens. After exploring and taking photos of the gardens, I ended at their retail greenhouse. There I saw a potted Christmas Cholla. Perfect. Deciding that I was not going to do any landscaping until fall, now I knew where to get the plant when I returned. I was assured that they always had at least one Christmas Cholla.
After the Tohono Chul visit, I was chatting with Tucson friends Flora and Phil. Upon their recommendation I went to Bach's cactus gardens to check out their cactus selections. They had two Christmas Cholla. There were only two in their acres of cactus -- and they were on the $10 close out table. As not a big seller, there would be no guarantee that they would have any in fall. I've proved it once again. Seems I am always into the unusual and doing something off the beaten -- and popular -- path.
With no guarantee there would be a plant in fall upon my return, I bought one of the two plants. I took it home and waited for the first cool day to plant. That was more for me than the plant. To make sure the Wascaly Wabbit wouldn't mutilate this plant, I spent as much time installing chicken wire around the plant. I hope the plant will develop enough thorns to keep critters from future mutilations and then I can remove the chicken wire.
Perhaps there will never be enough spines on the new growth that comes from the bottom of the plant. I sure don't want that chicken wire there permanently. Perhaps I could build a double row of six inch long pikes around the base of the plant facing outward to prevent the access by the Wascaly Wabbit. Geesh. This could get expensive.
That will definitely be a fall project. I just have to get the plant to survive the planting and the long hot summer ahead.
Shortly after that post, I had gone to explore Tohono Chul Gardens. After exploring and taking photos of the gardens, I ended at their retail greenhouse. There I saw a potted Christmas Cholla. Perfect. Deciding that I was not going to do any landscaping until fall, now I knew where to get the plant when I returned. I was assured that they always had at least one Christmas Cholla.
After the Tohono Chul visit, I was chatting with Tucson friends Flora and Phil. Upon their recommendation I went to Bach's cactus gardens to check out their cactus selections. They had two Christmas Cholla. There were only two in their acres of cactus -- and they were on the $10 close out table. As not a big seller, there would be no guarantee that they would have any in fall. I've proved it once again. Seems I am always into the unusual and doing something off the beaten -- and popular -- path.
With no guarantee there would be a plant in fall upon my return, I bought one of the two plants. I took it home and waited for the first cool day to plant. That was more for me than the plant. To make sure the Wascaly Wabbit wouldn't mutilate this plant, I spent as much time installing chicken wire around the plant. I hope the plant will develop enough thorns to keep critters from future mutilations and then I can remove the chicken wire.
Perhaps there will never be enough spines on the new growth that comes from the bottom of the plant. I sure don't want that chicken wire there permanently. Perhaps I could build a double row of six inch long pikes around the base of the plant facing outward to prevent the access by the Wascaly Wabbit. Geesh. This could get expensive.
That will definitely be a fall project. I just have to get the plant to survive the planting and the long hot summer ahead.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Book: Endurance
Mini book review: Endurance written by Alfred Lansing
The sensations of cold and wet were constant companions as I read Alfred Lansing's Endurance. Lansing tells an adventure story of the crew of the ship Endurance spending almost two years in the most forbidding icy cold and windy climate of Antarctica.
In 1914, Ernst Shackleton sailed from England in 1914 with the intent to cross the continent of Antarctica. In early 1915 the ship Endurance became lodged in an ice floe. Unable to extricate the ship, the 28 man crew was resigned to salvaging what they could from the Endurance before it was crushed by the ice. Soon they were living on an ice floe. Drifting with the ice flow for a long time, eventually they were able to launch their small boats heading to an island where they set up camp. Not much warmer, but it was land and not ice which frequently broke apart. From the island, Shackleton and just five others took a 22 foot boat braving the cold waters to get help at a whaling station on an island over 500 miles distant. They succeeded and then came back to rescue the 22 that were left at the island.
Using Endurance crew members' diaries and through skillful story telling, this book will keep you riveted. Although you know how the story ends, the author relates the two year long story of icy cold and wet. Lansing keeps the reader involved to the day when Shackleton returns to the island to rescue the remaining 22 crew members.
The sensations of cold and wet were constant companions as I read Alfred Lansing's Endurance. Lansing tells an adventure story of the crew of the ship Endurance spending almost two years in the most forbidding icy cold and windy climate of Antarctica.
In 1914, Ernst Shackleton sailed from England in 1914 with the intent to cross the continent of Antarctica. In early 1915 the ship Endurance became lodged in an ice floe. Unable to extricate the ship, the 28 man crew was resigned to salvaging what they could from the Endurance before it was crushed by the ice. Soon they were living on an ice floe. Drifting with the ice flow for a long time, eventually they were able to launch their small boats heading to an island where they set up camp. Not much warmer, but it was land and not ice which frequently broke apart. From the island, Shackleton and just five others took a 22 foot boat braving the cold waters to get help at a whaling station on an island over 500 miles distant. They succeeded and then came back to rescue the 22 that were left at the island.
Using Endurance crew members' diaries and through skillful story telling, this book will keep you riveted. Although you know how the story ends, the author relates the two year long story of icy cold and wet. Lansing keeps the reader involved to the day when Shackleton returns to the island to rescue the remaining 22 crew members.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Butter Is Back
I like butter.
A long time ago, I grew up on a dairy farm and real butter was on the table for every meal. Topping for mashed potatoes. Smear on the bread. Fry the eggs in butter. I also left finger prints in the butter dish in the refrigerator. Mom didn't approve of that.
Over the decades, we have been told that saturated fats are bad for our health and will cause heart disease. The Questionable Link Between Saturated Fat and Heart Disease relates how the "no fat" mantra started and where the science has gone in 50 years.
So what happened when the fat was taken out of food. It just didn't taste good so sugar was added by the agribusiness created foods. To get that fatty feel, other additives were added for texture on the tongue. Considering the health and obesity of Americans over the past decades, some people are beginning to wonder if perhaps we may have been wrong about saturated fat.
In the recent past, there have been several articles found via the internet that explore the myths about unhealthy foods. One of those is Everything You Need To Know About Unhealthy Food Is Wrong.
There is bad science and there is good science. I am always on the lookout for anything that will support my belief. I am no different than anyone else in a similar situation. I search for material that supports my belief that butter is good for me. Articles and books can be found to support a belief that butter and saturated fats are bad for you. So who do you believe.
My belief system says that butter is great. Butter Is Back supports my belief.
Note: For me, the butter of choice is Kerrygold. There are other cultured (European style) butters, but I prefer Kerrygold over the other brands.
A long time ago, I grew up on a dairy farm and real butter was on the table for every meal. Topping for mashed potatoes. Smear on the bread. Fry the eggs in butter. I also left finger prints in the butter dish in the refrigerator. Mom didn't approve of that.
Over the decades, we have been told that saturated fats are bad for our health and will cause heart disease. The Questionable Link Between Saturated Fat and Heart Disease relates how the "no fat" mantra started and where the science has gone in 50 years.
So what happened when the fat was taken out of food. It just didn't taste good so sugar was added by the agribusiness created foods. To get that fatty feel, other additives were added for texture on the tongue. Considering the health and obesity of Americans over the past decades, some people are beginning to wonder if perhaps we may have been wrong about saturated fat.
In the recent past, there have been several articles found via the internet that explore the myths about unhealthy foods. One of those is Everything You Need To Know About Unhealthy Food Is Wrong.
There is bad science and there is good science. I am always on the lookout for anything that will support my belief. I am no different than anyone else in a similar situation. I search for material that supports my belief that butter is good for me. Articles and books can be found to support a belief that butter and saturated fats are bad for you. So who do you believe.
My belief system says that butter is great. Butter Is Back supports my belief.
Note: For me, the butter of choice is Kerrygold. There are other cultured (European style) butters, but I prefer Kerrygold over the other brands.
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